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Part 2
He had consumed her with his poring eyes and had almost let his hands move forward to feel her smooth skin. She felt a shrill tremble at the mere thought of what he intended with his long fingers which were longing to touch her. She gulped as his finger were almost brushing her cheek. A part of her wanted him to go on more and more while the other part shouted out to stop him else it could get out of hand.
Fortunately or unfortunately, Ruhi's call snapped them both out of the romantic trance.
"Ishimaa"
Ishita quickly straightened herself and moved away from him and walked to Ruhi who seemed to have some doubt in the last sum. Ishita's mind was too preoccupied that even the simple mistake in addition that Ruhi had committed didn't occur to her. She wasn't able to focus on the book after what happened a few minutes before. Raman seemed to have done something to her head even without a touch. A shrill tremble went up through her when she thought about what could happen to her if even he touched her so passionately. His mere gaze was spilling passion that she was head to toe dipped in it.
As she sat bewildered, Ruhi urged shaking her, "Ishima, bolo na...iss sum mein kya galathi hai?"
[Ishima, tell me what is wrong in this sum?]
Raman, on the other hand seemed to have his head at the right place. He wasn't the one to back out when given a chance to mock and taunt his dear wife. He was enjoying the entire scene and he knew well that it was his effect on her that rendered her speechless and numbed. He said to himself, "I like it"
And then casually walked over to where Ruhi and Ishita were seated. In a glance he knew what was wrong. He chuckled at Ishita's state which was obviously due to him and commented, "Arre Ruhi, tumaare Ishima tubelight hai, unnse kyun poochthi ho? Usski dimaag ke batthi toh bacchpan se hi fused hai"
[Your Ishima is a tubelight...her brain's bulb is fused long back]
Ishita snaps at that and gestures mumbling, "Shut up Raman...kuch bhi..."
Ruhi looks on amused at their nhok jhok when Raman explains further, "Aur kya, nazar ke saamne jo hai wahi nahi samajh paathi toh yeh sab kahaan se, haan?"
[If not why aren't you able to understand the simple thing which is right before you]
His double meaning dialog trailed off and he finished with a naughty wink making her look away, embarrassed.
Raman knew that she understood his inner meaning and corrected himself by pointing at the error. Both Ruhi and her mother had missed one carry forward number in their addition. He spoke up teasingly, "main iss ek' ke baat kar raha tha...usse add karo aur dekho...answer perfect hoga!"
[I am talking about the 1 here...add it and get the right answer]
Ishita smiled at Ruhi and Ruhi went on to erase and rewrite the answer.
Raman continued to mock further, "Yeh toh jaanthi hi hogi ke 1 +1, 2 hai and not 11, hai na? Ya phir tumhe bhi private tuition deh doom?"
[1+1 is 2 and not 11...do u know it or should I give u private tuitions for that?]
Ishita pouted and before she could reply to his flirting remark, he dropped it like a hot potato, "ab private tuition ke naam pe phulo matth...mujhe aur bhi bohat kaam hai..."
[Dont be so happy about it...I have other important works!]
And out he walked away to the dining table. Ishita showed him a funny face and then continued teaching Ruhi for some more time.
A few days later,
During Simmi and Param's phone call, Param tactfully enquires about all at home. His sole aim is to find about Ishita and of course about Raman. Simmi tells him that she called Param as no one was at home. She was dumbly in love with him and trusted him to much that she went on to tell that Ishita was at her mother's place as Bala's mother and Subbu have come there for a visit. Param knows the background story of Subbu and Ishita. So he draws up a wicked plan in his head. Simmi's baby's naamkaran is also round the corner and he asks Simmi to get Ishita to invite Subbu and his mom too.
Though Simmi tries to argue, she eventually nods to it.
At the Iyer's place, Ishita actually wasn't interested in this visit but Bala's mom had asked for her. As Mihika commented into her akka's ears, if Bala's mom doesn't find her avenues to taunt Ishita, she doesn't have peace. So she posed to be warmly enquiring for Ishtita. Moreover, seeing her get upset in the presence of her son who was happily married and also had a son now was a pleasure to her eyes as well. But Ishita seemed far from being upset. She was very warm in her hospitality and talked to both of them cordially.
The formality and her non-stop smiles annoyed Bala's mom for sure and for Subbu too, it was a new sight. Perhaps, he had thought that she would sulk forever in his absence. But here she was all happy and serving them coffee and snacks that her mother had made for them.
When Mr Iyer gave the wedding invite, Subbu's mom taunted that this is not the way to invite and also that she had to get an invite from both families now. Mr and Mrs Iyer's invite as well as from the Bhalla's as Mihir was Ishita's devar.
Ishita smiled and replied, "Don't worry aunty...main khud aavungi na invite leke..."
[I will come to invite you]
Subbu's mom visibly cringed at the casual response and merely nodded with a false smile.
Subbu wanted to talk to Ishita in private. He didn't have a fixed agenda but then it was long time since they met and yes an apology was also in the list of things he had to speak.
Bhalla house...
Raman walked in from office and Simmi was ready with a long story to get Raman to get angry with Ishita. The moment he came in, he asked for Ruhi first.
"Simmi, Ruhi kahaan hai?"
[where is Ruhi?]
"Bhai, woh Bala ke maa aayi hai unnke betae, woh Subbu hai na..."
Raman nods and she continues, "toh Ishita bhabhi aur Ruhi sham se wahi hai!"
[Bro, Bala's mom and subbu have come...so bhabhi and Ruhi are there from evening]
Raman's face crunched a little but he wasn't sure what disturbed him more. Was it his wife's and daughter's absence at home or was it because his wife was at a place where her ex fianc was present?
He just nodded and went to his room. After freshening up, he walked to the balcony to breathe some fresh air. The empty room and the silence were suffocating him. Off late, he wasn't used to this. He liked his Ruhi and Jhansi ki rani to be around him always.
The sight he saw when he turned to the balcony of the Iyer's angered him more. Subbu and Ishita stood there talking about something. It appeared to be very serious discussion initially and then it lightened a bit and they were casually chatting like friends.
Raman fumed and walked back to the room smacking her mentally, "itna kya hass hass ke baat kar rahi hai?"
[What is she talking and laughing about?]
He switched channels and no cricket of football was able to distract him from the thoughts that tormented his mind.
He didn't see Ishita till late at night when she came after settling things at the kitchen. Ruhi had slept with her dadi and Ishita was sitting on the couch and applying the lotion on her feet. Raman had dual thoughts conflicting with each other as to whether he should ask about Subbu or not.
Eventually, the possessive husband side won and he cleared his throat to seek her attention but she never thought he was waiting for the right time to talk to her.
Raman was annoyed by her ignoring him but he knew he had to talk. He enquired, "amma appa kaise hai?"
[How are amma and appa?]
Ishita turned to him taken aback by his sudden enquiry but then nodded, "They are fine..." and resumed her work quietly.
He gestured as if to throw something on her and muttered to himself, "aur koyi baat hai toh mooh bandh nahi rakhti Jhansi ki rani...aaj usse kuch kehna hi nahi hai..."
[If it was some other matter, she would have gone on and on]
Ishita heard him mutter and asked, "aap ne kuch bola?"
[Did you say something?]
Raman mocked, "nahi...bolne ka department toh tumaara hai...main toh bass tumaare lecture sunn saktha hoom"
[No...talking is your department...I can only listen to ur lectures]
Ishita had by then understood what his problem is and asked, "What do you want to know Raman?"
He ignores her but he really wants her to tell him about what happened at her mother's place and more precisely what she spoke with Subbu.
She smiled at his egoistic indifference and went on to settle on the couch. A little while later, she covers herself with the duvet and starts narrating about Subbu and his mom's visit, and Subbu's apology but she is finds out quite late that he had slept by then.
She had also mentioned about Simmi wanting her to invite them for the naamkaran and that she would be doing it the next day!
***********************
Precap
Naam karan ceremony...Param's taunt and talk with Subbu...
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